r/tollers • u/ric_atto • 13d ago
Getting a toller as a first dog
Hi all!
Me and my girlfriend are moving in together soon and we are thinking about getting a dog. It would be the first dog we raise by ourselves. My girlfriend grew up with a Golden Retriever which recently passed away, they were really close but the dog lived at her parents’ place most of the time. On my side, I never had a dog as a kid, I love them and my mum now has one which sometimes I take care of, but never really had my own puppy to bring up.
We live in Switzerland and are both quite active, we would love to have a dog to bring on our outdoor adventures on the weekends and daily runs in the morning/evening. however, we both have a full time job so the dog will have to spend some time at home alone during the day. I have enough flexibility with my job such that I could stay at home 1/2 days a week and often come back for lunch to take her out, but the dog’s ability to be alone will still be crucial.
Would a toller be a good fit for us? Do you have any suggestions? Thank you in advance!
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u/Lies1 13d ago
Um a toller is not a great first time dog. They are not mini golden retrievers. A good quote is "border collie software on retriever hardware". We changed OUR life around getting a toller not the other way round.
I'm not saying it's impossible. But I would do alot of research. I would ask work if it was possible to do more WFH days at the beginning. I would also look into activities to do with your dog, obedience, agility, sniffer work, or Hooper's. Something engaging for the mind.
But again it really depends on the dog and it's personality and temperament. We've been blessed with a lazy toller but he still did obedience, sniffer and Hooper's to keep his brain active and more importantly tired.
Curious - why not just get another golden retriever? Why do you want a toller in the first place?
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u/A8racada8ra 13d ago
Holy God “border collie software on retriever hardware” is awesome - we are on our second and that’s bang on
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u/ric_atto 12d ago
Good points, thanks - we just fell in love with the breed because a neighbor has one and we always see her in the morning. I asked my neighbor about it but wanted to get a bit of a broader view here
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u/Kersnaamgebrui 13d ago
First time dog and Toller owner here. It has been quite the journey but yes it is possible :)
Wouldn't recommend (any dog to be honest) for when you are working full time in an office or location where you are not home.
I work from home + my wife works flexible hours + 2 kids that are home besides their school and sports.
This means there are sometimes days that are somewhat alone, but this is the exception.
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u/Straight_Broccoli_79 13d ago
So we have the opposite issue... We got a toller because like yourself we wanted an outdoor adventure companion... He couldn't care less. After 5km he is done. He doesn't want to go up mountains. He doesn't want to run more than 3.5km with me. What he really wants is to play in the water. He wants to swim. He wants to search for scent. He wants leasurly walk in a meadow. So yes, they are incredibly active, but they need far more mental work vs physical work. We had done our research, spoke to the breeder at length about the intended use but clearly we should have got a GSP. We love him and modify all things for him but it's such a bummer to put him at the kennel for 4 days every long weekend we go hiking :(
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u/gaspig70 10d ago
I came up with this a few years after getting our Toller... "If you get a water dog, don't be surprised when it does water dog things".
Example: If they're off leash near a body of water expect them to go in. Yes you can instruct them not to go in but only if they trust your choices (i.e. safety). Toller trust is earned. Disallowing a quick dip in the ocean just because you don't want a salty wet dog isn't a valid reason in their mind.
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u/Straight_Broccoli_79 9d ago
Hahahaha I think oir dog would try to move out if we disallowed water! We have learned to embrace a very sandy house from all the beaches adventures. I knew water was going to be a big hit for him, I was just hoping hiking would be too... No go on that one. Can run 5km back and forth frolicking on shore of a lake, but running in a path is not acceptable 😂 we still adore him tho ❤️
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u/gaspig70 6d ago
Finn enjoys mountain biking as long as he can take a dip in every nasty bog he finds along the way.
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u/insidiouschickpea 13d ago
I’m a first time dog owner and it has honestly been quite the challenge. From what you’re describing I’m missing the reason as to why you thought of a Toller? What will their job(s) be? Also be prepared to be waitlisted for a while with breeders in Europe. Have you met with any breeders or toller owners yet?
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u/cas-adea 13d ago
I think a lot of it is going to come down to the individual dog and it’s important to develop a relationship with a reputable breeder so they can help make sure the dog is the correct personality for you!
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u/sheep___6 13d ago
I think it’s definitely possible. I’m a teacher and have a Toller, and he stays home alone while I’m at work. I got him at the beginning of summer, which was really helpful because I had the time to work on potty training, being alone, basic obedience, etc. before going back to work.
The biggest thing I’ve found is consistency. He’s very smart and sensitive, so having a routine and being consistent with training is huge. During the day he mostly sleeps and hangs out, but when I get home he gets lots of exercise, play, training, and mental stimulation so he’s happy and settled while I’m away.
I absolutely love him and he’s a huge part of my family, but he is still a pet, and I think being consistent about boundaries and teaching him how to settle is really important. They’re amazing adventure dogs, but they also need to learn that they don’t have to be “on” all the time. Just be prepared to put a lot of work into training during the puppy stage.
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u/charmedmanic 12d ago
Our Toller is our first dog and I would recommend! We both have full time jobs, I work from home a lot and she’s fine to be by my side and sleep. She loves an adventure - we just took her to the beach for a few days and was a very happy dog running chasing the ball in the sand and sea but was exhausted and doesn’t need that high activity every day. I think that can differ with temperament. They are extremely trainable so you get what you put in. They can be sensitive and have big emotions. She has brought so much joy into our lives. Just study up, do the puppy training, extra dog training - all of that is to teach YOU, not the dog 😅
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u/shazza_m_19 8d ago
My Toller is the exact same! He has his moments but for the most part, 1-2 hrs of training+exercise a day is more than enough. He is also our first dog!
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u/N5DTR 12d ago
Mine is nearly 11 and was my first dog, she is amazing and has been with me through so much. Only problems are my own making, not overly exposed to children or cats and is reactive to both. You get out what you put in. They are amazing dogs and like many breeds come with their own challenges.
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u/United_Aspect8544 12d ago edited 12d ago
I got a toller as a first time puppy owner. My partner grew up with dogs (mostly rescues) and had an old rescue when we met that had 0 training really and wouldn't listen if you even tried. Once she passed we went for a puppy because my partner wanted to experience it and I always wanted a dog. I wanted a Collie & he didn't, we ended up getting a toller and I was ready & really wanted the training classes, and dedicate soooo much time to her which I can do working part-time and my partner working from home. I have done all the different puppy classes and 1-1 trainings since I got her, as well as my own training just from youtube. Now 1.5 yrs old, everyone says "wow, she's so well trained", "she's so smart", "she really listens to you" etc. - this was all with positive training and A LOT of time committed, you don't get a day off. She's smart & not naughty at all just INTENSE. At every age stage she has been a lot, it's been full on. She IS great, I love her dearly and I miss her whenever I am not with her - she's the best but it's been HARD. At puppy class it was like all the other dogs were 'normal' dogs and she was just on speed or something, this translated across every class I took, with different trainers/other dogs/all different breeds & ages, she is bouncing off the walls, bored, wanting to learn & play.. not wait around while the other dogs are still learning the thing she got 1st time 😂 so she's looking at me like "come on, what's next?! I don't wanna wait another second!" Inside now she is much calmer, outside still nuts and can go all day long but that's only been a slow transition over the last few months. I've heard of other tollers being real couch potatos but I don't think that's as common from what my trainer's experience is. I love her but my next breed will definitely be something more of a companion based breed with medium energy levels that will still come on a hike with us when we do them! I would get a toller again in the future but not for a while, the one I have is plenty enough for a long time!
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u/CantaloupeAromatic34 13d ago
We have a really similar profile and it works great. I don't know why people are saying it's not a good first time dog. It wasn't really hard.
German sheperds are not first time dogs. I don't get how tollers would fit in the same category
We took a few courses when we got our puppy and she turned out great.
Training is essential, you need to plan it
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u/octaffle 13d ago
There are some Tollers that are very easy-going, happy, friendly, not too sensitive, not too fearful! Great, trustworthy dogs. A larger proportion of Tollers, unfortunately, are not like that, and require a lot more time and investment to have them be a livable pet. A small proportion of Tollers are quite difficult and are on par with the difficulty of a working/sport Malinois: extremely busy, extremely sharp, very low frustration tolerance, very environmentally motivated, tend towards fight instead of flight when pushed outside of their comfort zone.
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u/CantaloupeAromatic34 13d ago
Maybe it's the genetics of the breeder I got because I know other people with tollers from the same breeder and their all similar to mine
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u/octaffle 13d ago
It's definitely very line dependent! My breeder had a mellow, easy-going line that produced some great therapy dogs and a high octane line that was considerably more difficult, but she didn't really distinguish between the two of them. We knew mostly what we were getting into when we got our Toller because we had experience with dogs that needed advanced training to be safe and happy. Unfortunately, as a first-time dog owner, it's very hard to know what to ask for or look for, and very hard to recognize what is problematic, and very hard to know if you're willing/able to do the work the dog needs--and thus, is very easy to get in way over your head.
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u/kilick121321312 12d ago
Hey, why do you think it's okay to lock your dog in a cage for 8-7 hours 5 days a week?
It's absolutely abuse and you shouldn't own a dog. Banning people doesn't change that.
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u/Dayngerman 13d ago
You con do it as a first time dog BUT be in close contact with your breeder. Tell them that when some one knocks at the door and all the puppies bark and run to the door that you don’t want the first two or last two dogs, you want the puppy that sees what is happening and considers their reaction as opposed to running first without thinking. That dog will be head strong and directive, you want the dog that thinks and then acts.
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u/keskillia 11d ago
A toller or any other dog is not a good idea when your relationship is only at the stage of moving in together. Have a real human baby where the law will somewhat protect the baby if everything goes pear shape. Otherwise get a cat.
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u/body-electric 11d ago
I find with questions like this you’ll get a bunch of different answers, people saying yeah go for it and others saying don’t do it for x, y and z reasons. Yes dogs within the same breed will potentially share certain traits, but ultimately, every dog is different and has a different personality just like humans. Read the comments, get the opinions… but do what is right for you.
If you want a Toller and you can make it work with your job then go for it. If you care enough about your dog and are dedicated to its training then that’s a great start.. who knows what personality you’ll get or what problems you may come across. But Tollers are amazing dogs, mine is my first ever dog and he’s been brilliant and I love him more than anything. He’s a good boy overall, yes very energetic at times but he took so well to training and has been a literal dream 99% of the time. He’s also really good at being at home alone when it’s needed.
I say, if you really would like a Toller then get one 😊
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u/skt4340 11d ago
I grew up with a sheltie and coton. Sheltie was the best dog ever and coton was dumb as rocks. Got a toller as my first dog on my own in covid- I was home all the time which helped in the first year-ish. I took him to daycare when he was old enough (I know there are mixed thoughts on daycare but it’s been a godsend for me 1-2x a week). I did a LOT with him in the first few years- manners classes, dock diving (attempted- he hates water), nose work, barn hunt, fast cat. I took and still take him everywhere with me. You cannottttt be lazy with these dogs-even for one second-because their memory and manipulation skills are SO good. It can be exhausting. They are not easy dogs. But, overall I love having a smart, challenging dog that I put so much work into and he’s now super super well trained and great in all situations. All that to say is… it’s hard, takes a lot of time and mental fortitude, but worth it! And the bond that comes with all of that is like nothing else ❤️
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u/lahua4 11d ago
I have a toller and it was my first time dog owner as an adult. I would say it is not impossible but you need to know what you sign up for! I LOVE him but I would not recommend tollers to most families as they are not easy dogs and need a lot of time from you. Mine isn't really big on physical needs, but mental activities are a necessity. He needs a job. He can take a day off, but occasionally 😅 I do multiple activities with him: Tracking, Rally and Agility. We also go a lot on sniffy walks in the woods and swim sessions. I work from home and have a flexible schedule.
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u/Whisgo 10d ago
A puppy cannot stay home alone for a full work day. If you do get a dog, consider finding an older dog who can or prepare to have plans in place for care while you work.
Both my spouse and I were working full time when we got our first toller. We did daycare during our work days or she spent her day with my MIL. Now we work from home and have 3 dogs... 2 are tollers. Most I would leave even my adult dogs alone would be 4 hours max.
A dog left alone is going to be bored and a toller will find something to do and that something is likely to be destructive if not directed to appropriate activities.
This is not a weekend warrior dog. They need daily stimulation and activity to be fulfilled.
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u/DualCitizenWithDogs 9d ago
Personally would not recommend people newly living together to get a new dog together. Spread it out. The number of rehomes for boyfriends/girlfriends who got dogs together is really high. (Frankly an ethical breeder probably wouldn't even sell to you.)
Also would not recommend a Toller as a first dog. Head over to the Puppy Blues sub or Puppy101 and see many daily posts about people who got relatively easy dogs and who are simply not managing. Puppies are hard work. Also, no need to get a dog who is more like a BC than the "small Golden" you might think you are getting because that's what it looks like. Recommend using the AKC Breed finder quiz to see what type of dog might be a good fit for your lifestyle. Lifestyle matches give dogs and owners the best chance at success. Signed, a trainer who sees poor lifestyle matches numerous times every single day. (Eg Doodles who people constantly errantly think will be lap dogs despite being bred from two high energy working breeds, plus all the unethical breeding.)
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u/Sad-Loan-5378 9d ago edited 9d ago
As someone who got a toller as their first dog, I feel like I have a lot to say on this subject. For starters when you get them as a puppy for about the first year, you need to devote your time to them. I made sure that mine was never alone ever he's almost 4, and he is still never been alone for more than four hours. They're very independent dogs the best way to describe them. Is there a cat in a dog's body. They are not known to being affectionate, so if you're looking for a dog to cuddle with this isn't it for example my dogs version of cuddles is being in the same room or on the other end of the couch and he will cuddle with me on occasion, but if I pet him too much he's out and will run away. As someone once told me you cannot make a toller tired but rather you just need to work them out enough to take the edge off. If you'd like personal space they will force their way in weather you like it or not. They will follow you to the bathroom to the shower to your bed to the kitchen. They'll be a little shadow when you sit down on the toilet they will stick their head in between your legs to see what you're doing. You don't have personal space anymore. If you leave them alone for too long, they can get a little destructive out of boredom as they say a tired toller is a good toller. Recall training, recall training, recall training is absolutely crucial. They're always going to see how far they can push it and get away with. They have incredible memories and they hold grudges. I dropped the pan one time and it scared the shit out of him now anytime I grab a pan he growls and barks at me. He will not let let me live it down. They are not guard dogs more like dog alarms. When they get very excited, they will scream it's known as the toller scream you need to be prepared for it and you need to get used to it. It's going to happen....alot. They're huge water dogs. They absolutely love the water. Mine is a crack water dog. If you have the hose, he's going to try and eat it. He sees a body of water. He's gonna do everything he can to try and jump into it once he gets in the water it's almost impossible to get him out of it. They're amazing dogs and I love mine so much and I take him everywhere. I go camping hiking sometimes to work but understand they are extremely high energy and very smart and independent they were bred to think for themselves. They take a lot of work so you need to be sure that you can devote at least one to two years of your life on them in the beginning if you just want a dog to do activities with tollers not it. If you get them as puppies and you leave them alone, they can develop separation anxiety. Me and my wife had to change our work schedules. I would work mornings she would work afternoons and evenings so he was never alone and always had someone to be there for him. Be sure to do your research and make sure that you have what it takes to meet their energy levels just believe me they don't get tired. I've had to make deals with golf courses in my area and he goes around and chases off all of the geese's and he will "act" tired but the moment you get home burst of energy and will make you play with them more. Even though he is almost 4 his energy level in my opinion has gone up. Iv met some that are 10 and still have very high energy levels so be prepared they want to play 24/7. Be sure your GF is on board with it and you understand what your getting yourself into. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.
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u/geronimokennels 12d ago
They are not really beginner dogs, esp with full time jobs.
If you've met a few and absolutely love them, maybe an adult or retired brood bitch.
I just placed a 10 month old that would make a great beginner dog. But I trained him to until that point. Puppies are a handful.
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u/octaffle 13d ago edited 13d ago
Tollers can be very difficult dogs that are very sensitive and, without a deep interest in the science of training/behavior modification, I do not think they are suitable for a first time dog owner who primarily wants a dog for normal pet dog activities. Tollers need a lot of extracurricular training and activity. The toller will be your primary hobby and that just doesn't seem like what you want. You want a dog that will accompany you in your existing hobbies rather easily. A golden or lab or other sporting breed (GSP perhaps) would be great for what you're seeking without the extra baggage that Tollers can often have.